Elevator for scraper



United States Patent Inventor Ronald Paul Grossklaus Mollne, IllinoisAppl. No. 754,199 Filed Aug. 21, 1968 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 AssigneeDeere & Company Moline, Illinois a corporation of Delaware ELEVATOR FORSCRAPER 21 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 198/203, I98/ I 95: 37/8 Int. Cl. ..B65g 15/30, B65 g 23/00Field of Search 198/168 195, 203; 37/8(Burr); 308/15, 22, 7i

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,454 9/1969 Hancock37/8 558,642 4/1896 Fayol 308/72 Primary Examiner-Edward A, SrokaAttorney-H. Vincent Harsha, Harold M. Knoth and William A. Murray andJohn M. Nolan ABSTRACT: A mounting arrangement for the drive sprocketstructure on the upper end of an elevator frame in which the sprocketsdrive a pair of transversely spaced chains interconnec'ted by rigidflights. The elevator frame has a pair of transversely spaced upwardlyopening sockets that receive downwardly extending pins of transverselyspaced sprocket supports, one sprocket support is connected to the endof the drive sprocket structure by means of pivots and the other supportis connected to its respective end by a relatively loose connection sothat the entire drive sprocket structure may self-position itselftoprevent stresses being set up in the structure.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Shoot FIG. I

M rs U NA L K S S O R G P R FIG. 5

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 INVENTOR. R. P. GROSSKLA US ATTORNEY ELEVATOR FORSCRAPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a scraperhaving a forwardly opening bowl and an elevator disposed across theforward open end thereof. Still more particularly this invention relatesto the drive sprocket structure at the upper end of the elevator and themeans for supporting the structure on the elevator frame so that it maybe self-positioning in order to prevent stresses from being created inthe structure.

It has heretofore been known to provide a flight-type elevator at theforward end of a scraper bowl that operates to move dirt passing overthe cutting edge at the forward end of the bowl upwardly and rearwardlyinto the bowl. Such an elevator normally includes an inclined rigid mainframe that carries a pair of transversely flight elements. The chainsare driven by transversely extending sprocket structure that is rigidlysupported on the upper end of the elevator frame.

The problem that sometimes is created in the aforedescribed elevator isthat the transverse drive structure is relatively wide and consequentlythe various bearings, shaft portions and other parts making up thetransverse sprocket structure may not be completely axially alined.Consequently when the drive sprocket structure is rigidly mounted on theelevator frame, stresses are created in the transverse structure.

Since the drive structure has high torsional loads created by drivingthe elevator, the combination of stresses and loads may eventuallycreate a failure in the transverse drive structure. Also, when thestructure is rigidly mounted on the frame, it is often very difficult todisassemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primaryobject of the present invention to provide mounting supports between theupper end of the elevator frame and the transverse drive structure. Theframe is provided with a pair of transversely spaced and upwardlyopening sockets. The support for one end of the elevator includes a pinthat is received in the respective socket and a pivotal connection toone end of the drive structure which will permit the structure to shiftslightly and in various directions. The opposite end support is composedof a pin that is received in its respective socket and a connection tothe transverse structure that is sufficiently articulate to accommodateshifting of the structure about the pivot means connecting the othersupport to its end. Thus, there is provided a self-positioningsupporting means for the elevator drive sprocket structure. Also, shouldit be desired to remove the drive sprocket structure for any reason, thechains of the elevator may be broken and the entire structure removedfrom the sockets on the elevator.

It is further proposed with the above described mounting structure toprovide a drive for the elevator that includes the pair of drivesprockets and a rigid torsion-transmitting structure between thesprockets. The latter structure has a hollow portion between thesprockets with an internal speed-reducing gear drive driven by a maindrive shaft that extends axially outwardly of one of the sprockets. Arotary type hydraulic motor is provided in a generally coextensiverelation to the drive shaft and is drivingly connected thereto. Themotor housing is supported on and held against movement by the supportfor one end of the drive structure. Consequently the entire drivestructure is easily removed for maintenance and repair by disconnectingthe chains and the hydraulic fittings for the motor. The preferred formof the support is composed of a universal-type joint utilizing a pair ofpivots, one of which is vertical and the other of which is fore and aft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of atractor and scraper utilizing the elevator structure which is thesubject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the elevator structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a support between the drive sprocket structureand the main frame as taken substantially along the line 55 ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A tractor has a pair of frontsteerable wheels 11, I2 and a pair of rear traction wheels l3, 14carried on a transverse rear axle structure 15. The tractor 10 includesan elongated tractor body 16 with a forwardly disposed engine or mainpower source mounted under a hood 17. To one side of the engine hood orhousing 17 is an operator's station, indicated only partially by thesteering wheel .18. Supported by and formed above the tractor axle is astructure defining an universal hitch 19 for connection to atrailing-type scraper implement indicated in its entirety by referencenumeral 20. The scraper is composed of a material container or bowlhaving upright sides 22 interconnected at their lower edges by a floorstructure shown only partially in FIG. 1 at 23. The bowl is open at itsforward end and has an upwardly inclined elevator 24 extending acrossthe open front of the bowl. As is conventional, there is a cutting edgealong the front transverse edge of the bowl and the elevator operates ina manner so that the material passing over the edge is elevated orconveyed rearwardly into the rear section of the bowl. The scraper isconnected to the hitch device l9so that the entire implement may movevertically as well as laterally. The hitch connection is in the form ofa Y-shaped beam structure 25 having a gooseneck forward section 26directly and articulately connected to the hitch l9 and a pair of legportions, one being shown at 27, extending rearwardly for connection tothe upper'edges of the sides 22. The latter side beams areinterconnected to the lower forward edges ofthe sidewalls 22 by means ofhydraulic cylinders 28, 29 which may be extended and retracted forpurposes of raising and lowering the entire bowl.

The elevator 24 is composed of an elongated inclined main frame 30including an upper horizontal transverse beam 31 and rigid andrearwardly projecting arms 32, 33 pivotally connected at 35 to upwardlyprojectingbracket lugs 37 on the upper edges'of the sides 22respectively. A pair of side beams 38, 39 extend downwardly to a lowerelevator end. The side beams are connected at their lower ends to alower transverse beam structure 40. A pair of beams 41, 42 is rigid withand projects outwardly of the side beams 38, 39 adjacent their lowerends and contacts stops, not shown, on the sides 22 so as to limitdownward movement 'of the frame 30. As will be readily apparent fromviewing FIG." I, the entire elevator 24 has a floating relation to thebowl and will move both upwardly and longitudinally to accommodate thematerial passing into the bowl. The conveying mechanism on the elevatoris composed of a pair of longitudinally extending continuous chains 43,44 mounted over idler sprockets or chain guide means 45, 46 at the lowerend of the elevator frame 30. A second set of idler chains guides 47, 48is provided on the respective side beams 38, 39. The guides 47, 48 arecarried on arms 50 pivotally connected at 51 on bracket structures 52.The arms 50 are bifurcated at their connection to the respective guides48 and receive links 53. The bracket structures 52 are provided with aseries of arcuately spaced openings 54 and the links 53 may be connectedto any of the respective openings to thereby position the respectivechain guides 47, 48 vertically. The chains" 43, 44 are interconnected byrigid transverse flight elements 55.

Supported on the upper end of the elevator frame 30 is a areinterconnected by edge plates 64, 65. The plates 64,

converge to an upper rear apex portion that has welded internallythereof a socket member 66 that opens upwardly and rearwardly toward theleft outer end of the drive structure 60.

The beam 31 has adjacent its right end and just inwardly of the arm 33 arigid rearwardly projecting channel structure composed of upper andlower plates 71, 72 respectively interconnected at their edges bystructural plates 73, 74. The plates 73, 74 converge rearwardly and allof the plates 71-74 have welded thereto a cast socket member 75 with aninternally machine-finished pivot opening or socket 76. The socket orpivot 76 extends upwardly and rearwardly and opens upwardly andrearwardly to the right outer end of the drive structure 60. The leftend socket member 66 swivelly carries therein a support 77 for the leftend of the structure 60. The right end pivot structure 75 carriestherein a support 78 for supporting the right end of the drive structure60. The right end pivot structure 75 carries therein a support 78 forsupporting the right end of the drive structure 60.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the drive structure 60 is composed of a pairoftransversely spaced drive sprockets 80, 81 that receive the upper endsof the chains 43, 44 respectively. The sprockets 80, 81 are rigidlyinterjoined by a torquetransmitting structure 82. The latter structureincludes a transverse horizontal tubular section 83 that has an endadjacentthe sprocket and has fixed to that end a radial flange 84 lyinginwardly of the sprocket 80 and bolted thereto at 85. The structure 82further includes an enlarged portion or casing 86 that is round in crosssection and is formed about the axis of rotation of the two sprockets80, 81, it being understood that the sprockets 80, 81 are adapted tomove about a common axis. The casing 86 has a right end extension 87with a right end radial flange 88 lying inwardly of the right-handsprocket 81 and bolted thereto at 89. A flywheel casing 90 is bolted at91 to the left end of the enlarged portion or casing 86. The flywheelcasing 90 is bolted at 92 to a radial plate 93 that is welded to andextends outwardly from the right end of the structural tube 83. A web 94closes the left end of the flywheel casing 90.

Extending axially in respect to the axis of rotation of the sprockets80, 81 is drive shaft means in the form of an elongated axiallyextending shaft 100. The shaft extends axially through the casings 86,87 and into the flywheel casing 90. The shaft is journaled on itsinnermost end by a bearing 10] carried on a support 102 that is fixed tothe casing 86. The outer end of the shaft 100 is carried on bearings 103which in turn are carried on an axially extending support member 104that projects from an axial inner end inwardly of the casing 86 to anouter end outwardly ofth'e sprocket 81. The support 104 has a lugportion 105 thereon that is pinned at 106 to a bifur cated end 107 ofthe support 78 that connects that end of the drive structure to thetransverse beam 31. Journal means in the form of thrust bearings 108,109 are carried internally of the casing extension 87 and permitrotation of the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 in respect tothe supports 104,78. It should here be recognized that the supports104,78 are held against rotation by the pin 106. A, snap ring 110 isprovided on the inner end of the support 104 and a nut 11] is threadedlymounted on the support 104 externally of the bearings 108, 109. Bytightening the nut 111 the bearings 108, 109 may be adjusted.

. Fixed to the support 104 by bolts 112 is a main power source in theform of a hydraulic motor 113. The motor 113 may be of any of manycommercially sold. it has a drive shaft 114 extending in an axialalinement with the shaft 100. The shafts 100, 114 are coupled by acoupling ring 115. The hydraulic motor is controlled by a suitablecontrol means adjacent the operator's station on the tractor l0 andfluid is introduced into the motor by flexible hoses 116 so that themotor and drive shaft maybe driven in either direction.

A flywheel 120 is supported to rotate with the inner end of the shaft100. Adjacent that end of the shaft 100 and fixed thereto is a sun gear121. The sun gear 121 is the initial drive connection to the entirespeed-reducing drive means that is disposed in the casing 86. Thespeed-reducing drive means includes a pair of axially spaced planetarygear drives with the first gear drive including the sun gear 121 fixedto rotate with the shaft means 100, a ring gear 122 mounted on thecasing 86, and planet gears 123 that have one gear section 124 engagingthe sun gear 121 and a second gear section 125 engaging the ring gear122. The ring gear 122 operates as a restriction against movement of theplanet gear 123. A carrier 126 for the planet gears 123 is fixed at 127to the sun gear 128 of the second planetary gear arrangement. A carrier129 for planet gears 130 of the second planetary gear arrangement isheld against movement by a splined joint 131 with the support 104. Thering gear 132 of the second planetary gear drive is fixed to the casing86 and will cause rotation of that casing 86 upon rotation of the basicdrive shaft 100. Rotation of the easing 86 will, of course, cause thering gear 122 to rotate. However, the direction of rotation is such thatit will cause the carrier 126 to reduce the rate of rotation of the sungear 128. Consequently the two planetary gear arrangements will causethe entire casing 86, the torsion-transmitting structure 82, and thesprockets 80, 81 to rotate in unison.

Reviewing H6. 4 in its entirety, it should be noted that there are manyjoints between the casings 83, 86, 87 and between the flanges 84, 80 and88,-81 that may create misalinement of the bearings at the end of thedrive sprocket structure. The bearing arrangement on the right-hand endhas been previously described. On the left-hand end there is provided arigid plate 135 that is bolted by bolts 85 to the outer surface of thesprocket 80. Extending outwardly from the plate 135 is a bearing shaft136 havinga reduced end 137 receiving a bearing 138 carried in a bearinghousing 139. The housing 139 has a pair of axially extending lugs 140,141 projecting outwardly from its surface. The support 77 is provided 7As mentioned previously, due to the various joints in thetorsion-transmitting structure 82, the bearings 138, 103, 101 could beslightly out of axial alinement. They could be slightly eccentric to oneanother. Should the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 be slightlyout of axial alinement, unless the entire structure 60 is supported in afree or floating manner, there would be considerable stresses applied inthe 7 structure 82. It is for this reason that the right-hand end of thestructure is supported on pivot means that includes the pivot pin 106and the pin portion 148 of the yoke 107 that fits into the socket 76.Reviewing FIG. 3, it becomes apparent that the entire structure 60 mayswivel longitudinally of the frame 30 by slight movement about the pin106. Similarly the structure 60 may swivel normal to the frame 30 byshifting about the socket joint 76, 148. By having support 77 looselysupport the bearing housing 139, any misalinement of the axial structure60 will becompensated for by the articulate connections in the supportsat opposite ends of the structure 60. Thus, there will be no stress inthe various parts of the torsion-transmitting structure 60 other thanthose created by the torque load created by the motor 113. lt shouldalso be noted that the support adjacent the motor 113,'while articulatein nature, is nevertheless constructed of pivots that have closetolerances. Therefore, there will not be a jerky motion due to starting,stopping or reversing the direction of rotation of the motor. In otherwords, the end of the structure that supports the motor is firmlymounted on the frame 30. Thus, the entire torquetransmitting structure60 is free to self-position itself if for any reason there ismisalinement between one end and the other end of the structure.

lclaim:

1. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuouschains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transverselyspaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in:a rotary device including a plurality of axially alined drive sprocketsreceiving the chains and torsion structure extending between, connectedto, and for driving the sprockets; supports at opposite ends of thedevice; journal means between the supports and device; drive means atone end of the device carried on the respective support at that end fordriving said structure; an external pivotal mounting means at the oneend between the frame and support for permitting self-positioning of thedevice; and means mounting the oppositesupport end on the frame, saidmeans being adaptable to accommodate the self-positioning of the deviceabout the pivotal mounting means.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the drive means is amotor having a housing rigid with its respective support, and thepivotal mounting means has included therewith a pivot joint offset fromthe sprocket axis and disposed in the aforesaid plane.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the pivotal mountingmeans is a rigid member pivotally connected at one end of on the frameto shift about a first axis and connected at its opposite end to thesupport to shift about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis andin which both axes are perpen dicular to the axis of rotation of thestructure.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the means mounting theopposite end of the device is adaptable to accommodate limitedarticulate movement of the structure in respect to the first and secondpivots.

5. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuouschains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transverselyspaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in:a plurality of axially alined drive sprockets for receiving the chains;torsion-transmitting structure extending between the sprockets; drivemeans supported on an end of and for driving said structure; an externalpivotal mounting means including a pivot pin at right angle to thesprocket axis and at the one end for supporting the structure on theframe and for permitting self-positioning of the structure; and meansmounting the opposite end on the frame; said means being adaptable toaccommodate the self-positioning of the structure about the pivotalmounting means.

6. In an elevator having a main frame and transversely spaced continuouschains played over rotary chain guides on the frame and transverselyspaced flights interconnecting the chains, the improvement residing in:a plurality of axially alined drive sprockets for receiving the chains;torsion structure extending between and for driving the sprockets;supports at opposite ends of the structure; means journaling thestructure on the supports; and external pivotal mounting means betweenthe frame and one of the respective bearing supports for permittingself-positioning of the structure with respect to the frame about anaxis lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sprocket axis;and means mounting the opposite bearing support on the frame, said meansbeing adaptable to accommodate the self-positioning of the structureabout the pivotal mounting means. i i

8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 in which the pivotal mountingmeans is such as to permit shifting of the structure about axes in aplane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the structure.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the structure has ahollow portion between the sprockets, the drive means includes a driveshaft that extends axially into the hollow portion and a driveconnection between the shaft and hollow portion for driving the latterand the structure.

10. The structure asset forth in claim 6 in which the drive means is amotor and a driven shaft drivingly connected to the structure and themounting means includes an arm fixedly attached to and supporting thestructure and motor, the arm being pivotally connected to the frame inoffset relation to the axis of rotation of the structure.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 10 in which thetorsion-transmitting structure has a hollow portion between thesprockets, the shaft extends into the hollow portion, the mounting meansfurther includes a journal support that is rigid with the arm andjournals the shaft, and the shaft is drivingly connected to the hollowportion of the structure.

12. The structure as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by thejournal support also journalizing the structure at the respective end. g

13. The structure asset forth in claim 11 in which the means mountingthe opposite end is in part a journal for rotatably supporting the endand a support mounted on the frame for the journal that permits thejournal to shift axially and to articulate in respect to the support. g

14. In an elevator having a main frame with an upper end, transverselyspaced continuous chains interconnected by transverse flight elements,the improvement residing in drive sprocket structure extendingtransversely across the upper end of the elevator and composed oftransversely spaced sprockets at the upper end for receiving therespective chains;

structure on the frame forming transversely spaced sockets openingtoward the drive structure; and supports extending radially from thedrive structure receivable in the respective sockets for supporting thedrive structure on the frame.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 14 in which the structureforming the sockets is beneath the drive structure and the sockets openupwardly, the supports are slidable in the sockets open upwardly, thesupports are slidable in the sockets and are retained in the sockets bythe chains.

16. The structure as set forth in claim 15 in which the sprocketstructure has transversely spaced ends, the supports .are on the ends,and the sockets open to the ends, and

whereby the support at one of the ends is connected thereto by a pivotlying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprockets.

17. In an elevator having a main frame with an upper end, transverselyspaced continuous chains interconnected by transverse flight elements,the improvement residing in drive sprocket structure extendingtransversely across the upper end of the elevator and composed oftransversely spaced sprockets at the upper end for receiving therespective chains; transversely spaced supports extending radially fromthe drive structure; and a vertically extending socket connection meansbetween the upper end of the elevator frame and at least one of thesupports for retaining the drive structure on the frame, the socketconnection means being adaptable to permit shifting of the structuretoward or away from the upper end.

18. The structure as setforth in claim 17in which the socket connectionmeans to said one of the supports includes a combination of socket andpin connection between the frame and support lying in a plane at rightangles to the axis of rotation.

19. The structure as set forth in claim 18 in which said one of thesupports is connected to the respective end of the drive structure by apivot at right angles to the socket and pin connection but in the sameplane. Y

20. The structure as set forth in claim 19 in which the other of thesupports permits shifting of its respective end of the structure so asto permit self-positioning of the entire trans verse structure.

21. The structure as set forth in claim 17 characterized by the end ofthe structure having said one of the supports has rigid therewith amotor for driving the drive sprocket structure, and said socketconnection means retains the housing of said motor against rotation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,58,915 Dated 1 December 1970 Inventor(s) Ronald P. GrossKlaus It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 2 cancel 0:15"; line 61, before the claim 8, insert thefollowing claim:

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the pivotal mountingmeans is offset from the axis of the struc ture to permit axialself-positioning of the structure.

Column 6, line 1 change "journalizing" to --journaling --5 line 3H,cancel open upwardly, the supports are slidable in the socKets".

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J1 Attesting OfficerComissioner of Patent:

1 FORM PC4050 (10-69) ner-nuu-nr Ann-n

